Empress Cixtisis

by Anne Simon

Overview

A feminist fantasy graphic novel inspired by the true story of the Empress Dowager Cixi of China.

Under the reign of Queen Aglaia, the people of Suffragette City have lived in peace and harmony. But all is thrown into chaos when the Empress Cixtisis, ruler of neighboring Chinchinia, kidnaps all of the men of Agalaia’s queendom in order to castrate and enslave them. Can Aglaia outwit the Empress and bring back her men before it’s too late? Cartoonist Anne Simon’s eagerly anticipated sequel to The Song of Aglaia is another brilliant work of allegorical fantasy with a feminist spin, told with a singular verbal and visual wit. 

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781683962212
Publisher:	Fantagraphics Books
Publication date:	08/06/2019
Edition description:	1
Pages:	80
Product dimensions:	6.70(w) x 8.70(h) x 0.60(d)

About the Author

Anne Simon lives in Paris and studied art in the internationally renowned comics city of Angoulême, France.

Editorial Reviews

06/24/2019

Simon returns to the bizarre fantasy world of The Song of Aglaia, and Barbarran is in crisis. The nefarious Empress of Tchitchinie, Cixtisis, has stolen the country’s men, and it’s up to Queen Aglaia to negotiate their return—or take action to bring them home—when the capital Suffragette City receives a visit from the Empress herself. Populated with French fry–shaped Amazonian women, a politically ideological royal advisor, and a hapless cook who is the last man left in the land, the humorous and dramatic narrative never quite takes the tongue from its cheek. Whimsical character designs and delicate, cross-hatched art with warm coloring conveys the settings and high emotions. Cixtisis is based on the real-life Empress Dowager Cixi of China, and in her characterization the art falters. Cixtisis is haughty and cruel (she enjoys enslaving and castrating men) and is portrayed with various perversions. A caricature of a monarch, she literally yells, “Off with their heads!” in one scene. The empress, her attendants, and her realm of Tchitchinie have a strong air of Orientalism, especially contrasted with the portrayals of the feminist ideals of Barbarran. While entertaining, the story’s digression into exotification detracts from the themes of empowerment, love, and difficult choices. (Aug.)

Publishers Weekly

"Simon’s fierce, dangerous The Song of Aglaia was one of the finest and subtlest works of 2018. How nice it is to see her expanding that universe of weird critters in this new book, based on the reign of the Chinese empress Cixi."

Paste

"A surprisingly fun feminist satire."

B&N Sci-Fi and Fantasy Blog

"A sharp, fully-realized feminist parable. [Simon's work is] never anything less than a pure joy to read."

Four Color Apocalypse